New service will mean care in your own home

Sophie Brennan, Linda Andrews, Susan Shackleton and Paul Beland, the Thorpe Hall Hospiece at Home team from Marie Curie and Sue Ryder at their launch at Morrison's, Lincoln Road EMN-150910-195054009

A hospice provider has expanded its offering by launching a new Hospice at Home service.

Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice in Peterborough launched the new service on Friday last week during Hospice Care Week, thanks to funding received from the Morrisons ‘Raise a Smile’ partnership with contributions from Uniting Care Partnership and Marie Curie.

The service aims to support people at the end of their life, not just in Peterborough, but across South Lincolnshire, Rutland and Northamptonshire.

It will build on the services that are already in place across the region.

Paul Beland, Thorpe Hall Hospice at Home coordinator, said: “Research shows that around 70 per cent of people would prefer to die at home, yet around 50 per cent currently die in hospital when that may not be their preference.

“Our service can support people if a family or carer suddenly falls ill or is called away, or symptoms suddenly worsen at home in the middle of the night. Patients or their carers can call us direct and we will provide the extra support they need in the short term, and work with their community team to make sure the right support is in place for the long term.”

Registered nurses and senior nursing assistants, who are all trained to provide specialist palliative care and support, will be on hand in an emergency to provide assistance with personal care like assisted washing, toileting and also symptom and pain monitoring and management.

The team also works with other community services and healthcare professionals to ensure the necessary level of support is in place for the patient and their family going forward.

Hospice director Jane Petit said: “As with our other services, our focus with Thorpe Hall Hospice at Home is firmly on the person and not the condition - giving every patient the care and support they need to spend the time they have left in the way that they choose.”

Requests to the service, which will become operational on November 1, can be made through district nurses or your GP. To find out more about Hospice at Home call 01733 225936.